BOOK DESCRIPTION
I love him. I trust him… But what if I’m wrong?
Whisper Falls is a fresh start for Madison and her fiancé Cooper. The safe, quiet town on the shores of a beautiful lake is the perfect place to spend the rest of their lives.
But then Madison learns that Cooper’s high-school girlfriend Celia disappeared after a party. Three days later, her body was found in the lake.
And the town thinks it wasn’t an accident.
Madison loves Cooper, but she can’t help wondering. She has to know the truth.
But if she starts asking questions, what other secrets will be revealed? Will she meet the same fate as the woman who came before her?
A dark, gripping psychological thriller with a brilliant twist, The One Before is perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn and Rachel Caine.
This gripping thriller is mainly narrated from the perspectives of two women, Madison and Helena and has chapters that are set in the present day and back in 2006. It's a story of love, grief, isolation, deception, determination, control and the love of a parent for their child. Madison is a strong willed character, a city girl who used to be a successful crime reporter and is struggling to adapt to life in a small town where she feels isolated, she is used to the hustle and bustle of her life in the big city. So when she learns that some people in the town still suspect Cooper of being involved in the death of his high-school girlfriend Chloe Grey, Madison's journalistic instincts kick in and she can't resist digging into the death of the girl whose spirit has haunted Madison and Cooper's relationship since they started dating two years previously.I couldn't help admiring Madison's loyalty to her fiance and her determination to uncover the truth but, to be honest, there was something about her character that I didn't like although I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Like most readers,I like to feel at least some connection to the main character of whatever book that I am reading but I didn't feel any connection with Madison at any point in this story.
I felt a lot of sympathy for Helena,a grieving mother who was determined to get revenge on the person she felt was responsible for the death of her daughter. Every loving parent lives in fear of something terrible happening to their child and I can't imagine the impact that the death of a child must have on a person's psyche, especially when you are convinced that the official reason for their death is a lie. I'm not saying that I agree with her actions but who knows how they would react if they found themselves in the same position.
Interspersed throughout the book was chapters that slipped back in time to 2006, were voiced from Chloe's perspective and covered the events leading up to her death. I can't say that I thought she was a very likeable character but sometimes people act the way they do for a reason, they hide their true feelings and thoughts behind a mask. But she wasn't the only character living in the picturesque town of Winter Falls who was hiding behind a mask, what secrets were lurking within the peaceful isolated houses that were situated on the shores of a beautiful lake? Who had killed Chloe and what was their motive? Would the truth set Madison free so she could live happily ever after with Cooper or will it be the end of their relationship and possibility her life?
Family is the heart of this well written, enthralling domestic drama/thriller that hooks the reader in from the first page. The chapters end in ways that encourage the reader to carry on reading, the twists and turns keep you guessing and glued to your kindle. I thought this was a very enjoyable read and I would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
Author Bio:
Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://bit.ly/34Cl9sC
Apple: https://apple.co/3fystYI
Kobo: https://bit.ly/30tnCUl
Google: https://bit.ly/31jUygW
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